Flue-scraper



, E. ABER.

FLUE SCRAPER.

APPLICATION FILED IIIAYIS. I9I9.

l390,072 PatentedSept. 6, 1921@ IIIIIIIIIIII I IIIIIIIIIIIII I III I y W/TNESSES [NVE/WUR N 506m man? w. BY M /IrToIIII/EI'S erre EDGAR ABER, 0F ST.

Application led May 16,

standardization, the various parts being so arranged that in the complete device they constitute a flue scraper having considerable flexibility and adaptability together with a high degree of efficiency.

My invention further contemplates giving such form to the several parts of the ue scraper that by conferring different degrees of tension upon different portions of the scraper while momentarily in action the virtual diameter of the device can be varied automatically and by rendering different portions of the flue scraper thus adjustable as to diameter, the device can be so adapted that one set of bladesV may be used for scraping, the other set as a whole having for the moment a comparatively reduced diameter so that while one set of blades is in action the other may be rendered idle. Y

More particularly stated, I seek to improve the form and arrangement of the scraper plates, so as to hold the plates more firmly in position and to guide them more accurately.

By this arrangement undue friction upon the blades is avoided as only the blades which are actually engaged in scraping are for the time being subjected to friction.

A. yfurther object of my invention is to prolong the life of the fiue scraper by saving various parts from undue wear.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specifica tion, in which like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several figures.

Figure 1 is a substantially central section throughmy improved flue scraper.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of one of the scraper blades.

A tubular thiinble or sleeve 4: is threaded externally and fitted upon it are two massive Specification of Letters Patent.

JOSEPH, MICHIGAN.

nnen-saneren.

1919. Serial No. 297,488.

nuts 5-6 each having in this instance a general hexagonal form in cross section. Between these two nuts is a washer 7 and encircling the nuts respectively are two bands 8, 9 each having a general hexagonal form. Scraper blades are shown at 10, 11, 12, 18,

ratentea sept. e, mai.

1/1, 15 and are fitted upon the hexagonal nut 5 and held in position thereupon by aid of the band 8, said blades being independently secured upon the faces of the hexagonal nuts and disposed at obtuse angles relative to each other, especially cross sectionally of the blades. These scraper blades abut against the washer 7 and are each provided with a spring linger 16 bent to an obtuse angle rel atively to the general plane of the blade. Each spring finger is secured to its blade by rivets or screws 17. The several spring stems are so arranged that their outer or free ends converge into a substantially cone-like member as indicated at the left of Fig. 1.V

A cap 18 made of metal engages the several spring fingers and exerts pressure upon them tending to bend them toward a common center. The cap 18 is mounted upon a threaded portion 19 of a stem 20. A. nut 21 is also fitted upon this threaded portion 19 and serves as a lock for holding the cap 18 rigid relatively to the stem. rllhus, by turning the cap 18 the spring fingers 16 may be forced toward each other and also toward the stem, y

detachably securing the stem 2O upon the bowl handle 23. A number of other scraper blades 27 similar in structure to the blades already described are likewise provided with springfingers 28 which are structurally likek the spring fingers 16 but which extend in the opposite direction from the spring fingers 16. A cap 29 similar to the cap 18 engages the spring fingers 28 and is used for forcing the same toward the stem 20 in the same manner that the cap 18- forces the".

spring finger 16 toward the center as above described.

The parts are so arranged that when the flue scraper as a whole is forced endwise through the flue soV that one set of the direction justV mentioned.

scraper blades is used in scraping the interior of the flue, the opposite set of blades is rendered idle and is forced out of engagement with the adjacent surface of the liuc. Suppose for instance that the flue scraper as shown in Fig. 1 be forced endwise into a iiue, that is to say, suppose it is -moved to the left according to Fig. 1, the scraper blades 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 are the ones which should now do the scrapinnsolong as the flue scraper travels in the particular Y In such event, the cap 29 by pressing the spring fingers 28 slightly toward eachother and toward the axis of the stem 2O causes the various scraper blades 27 to bend slightly inward, so as to either clear the walls of the fiue or else press but slightly thereupon. When, however, the directions of travel of the flue scraper is reversed so that there is a pull upon the whole handle 23, the action of the scraper blades will be reversed, that is to say, the spring lingers 16 will be crowded together so that the blades 10, 11, 12, 13, 14C, 15 are thrown out of action and if possible, out of contact with the wall lof the flue, whereas the blades 27 will be allowed to expand freely in order that Vthe cutting edges of these scraper blades may be rendered edective for the moment.

I do not limit myself to the precise mechanism shown as variations may be made therein'without departurev from the spirit of my invention.

I-.laving thus described my invention what 'I `laire as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent igV as follows:

1. In a flue scraper, the combination of a stem, a plurality of cup shaped caps mounted upon said stem and facing each other, a sleeve loose on the stem, between the caps, a pair of nuts encircling and in engagement with said sleeve and having outwardly inclined faces, bands encircling the nuts, a number of scraper blades arranged in two groups, each group of blades being secured upon one of said nuts by one of said bands, said blades having cutting edges so arranged that the cutting edges of the blades of one group extend in one direction and the cutting edges of the blades of the other group extend in the opposite direction, and a iinporting member having a general annular form and encircling said stem, said supporting member being disposed intermediate said caps and loose on the stem, and having flat faces, a plurality of scraper blades fitted against said` faces and arranged in two groups, each independently secured upon said faces at obtuse angles to each other, and mounted to bear upon said supporting member in closed relation and entirely encircling the same, the blades of one group extending toward `one of said caps and the blades of the other group extending toward the other cap, and a spring linger mounted upon each blade, the spring fingers `associated with each group of blades being bent obliquely inwardly and. terminating in the adjacent cap.

3. In a flue scraper, the combination of a stem and a thimble loosely mounted thereon intermediately, a pair of nuts mounted thereupon, a washer disposed between said nuts, a plurality of scraper blades, arranged in groups, one group engaging one of said nuts, a band upon each nut vfor holding the scraper blades` thereon, spring fingers mounted upon the blades and nuts mounted upon said stem and-loosely engaging said spring fingers, said last-mentioned nuts being adjustable relatively to said stem.

4. In a flue scraper, the combination of a stem, a thimble loosely encircling same, nuts threaded `on said thimble, a plurality of scraper blades supported by one of said nuts i and extending in one general direction therefrom, a plurality, of other scraper blades supported by the other of said nuts and extendingin the opposite direction therefrom, cach group Y of scraper blades,` being provided with springt fingers bent at obtuse angles with respect thereto, means for adjusting the tension of said'spring fingers, bands on the nuts over the blades, said tensioning adjusting means being mounted on the ends of the stem and embracing the lingers, and a handle on the stem. j

5. A device vof the character described comprising a stem provided witha pair of threaded portions, a threaded nut mounted upon each of said threaded portions and movable relatively to said stem, Vmeans for locking said nuts, a thimble. loosely encircling said stem, a pair of nuts mounted upon said thimble, a washer located intermediate said nuts, a plurality of scraper blades mounted upon each of said nuts, the scraper blades carried by one of the nuts extending in a direction opposite that in which the scraper blades mounted upon the other of said nuts extend, said nuts being provided with narrow wire-like centrally located spring lingers engaging said first-mentioned nuts at their free ends.

EDGAR ABER.. 

